The Law Association of T&T has told attorney Gregory Delzin that a matter which arose 14 years ago while Attorney General Garvin Nicholas was a student was addressed and resolved and it is “unfortunate and mischievous” that the matter became public yesterday.
The association issued a copy of a letter to this effect, signed by its president Seenath Jairam and sent to Delzin yesterday.
This, after Delzin wrote the association on the matter involving Nicholas on Wednesday, shortly after Nicholas was appointed Attorney General. The association’s council met Wednesday night.
But private documents concerning Nicholas’s pupilage period were leaked to the media, appearing in an Express report yesterday. It was reported that the issue of 14 years ago concerning Nicholas was being referred to the association.
The association was being urged to investigate allegations that Nicholas, while in pupilage at Trinity Chambers in 2001, was cautioned by then chamber head Desmond Allum, SC, about breaching the Legal Profession Act (LPA).
This occurred after Nicholas allegedly printed call cards representing himself as an attorney admitted to practise in T&T.
Allum is now deceased. A copy of a letter by the deceased Allum was sent to association on Wednesday. Allum had reportedly spoken to Nicholas on the issue in 2001 in the presence of Delzin.
Lawyers attached to Trinity Chambers now, according to the chamber’s telephone recording listing, include Delzin and former Solicitor General Eleanor Donaldson-Honeywell.
She resigned in 2014 while former attorney general Anand Ramlogan was in office and her complaint to Ramlogan ignited the prisongate controversy, now under probe.
Prisongate refers to an investigation where civil claims were being filed against the State by prisoners who claimed they were beaten in custody and awarded compensation by the Judiciary.
Police are probing allegations that the information in the civil lawsuits were being copied and pasted by attorneys involved in the matters.
Nicholas has said he had left Trinity chambers due to false allegations that he sought a percentage of fees paid to attorneys in the chamber for work done.
He said he had also resigned not because of the call card issue but because he felt some personalities were being “petty” and he didn’t want to be there.
He said he had been a barrister of England and Wales and a member of the Inner Temple.
However, as he had not yet been called to the local Bar, it was felt he should not state that on his card. He said when the situation was pointed out, he complied and later left on very amicable terms with Allum.
Delzin didn’t answer calls on the association’s letter.
Full Confidence
Yesterday Government confirmed due diligence was followed with regard to Nicholas’ appointment. The Communication Ministry, via a statement, added:
“As explained by the Attorney General (in the story) he was called to the Bar in the United Kingdom in 2001 as a barrister of law and member of the Inner Temple.
“Later that year, he returned to T&T to start his six month in-service training at Trinity Chambers under the tutelage of the head of chambers, the late Desmond Allum, SC, as part of the Legal Education Certificate (LEC) requirement to get called to the Bar locally.
“Regarding allegations that Mr Nicholas was requesting a percentage of fees from work he had referred to attorneys while at the chambers, these claims were denied and Mr Nicholas continued his pupilage at Trinity Chambers until his decision to resign and complete his training with Mr Robin Montano.
“It is worth noting that this matter occurred more than 14 years ago and was resolved. Senator Nicholas was called to the Bar in 2002 in T&T, and has a distinguished career in the fields of law, politics and diplomacy.
“Government has every confidence that Senator Nicholas will execute the functions of the Office of the Attorney General responsibly and in keeping with the highest principles of integrity, transparency and accountability,”
No censure for West
The Law Association’s Council meeting on Wednesday did not have any motion calling for Police Complaints Authority director David West to resign and no motion was “out-voted,” legal sources said.
West has been called upon to resign by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for failing to notify the President or herself that he was allegedly approached by former attorney general Anand Ramlogan to withdraw his witness statement in a defamation lawsuit in support of Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley.
Members said there was an almost full council turnout but no motion to call on West to resign.
They said discussions on West began at the association’s meeting last Saturday following which the council issued a statement, saying then attorney general Anand Ramlogan should resign to the face of a police probe.
They said the West issue was again examined at Wednesday’s council meeting but no decisions were taken, sources said. Association officials yesterday said it stood by its statement of last Saturday.